Social Media: The New Bowling Alley

Posted on by Kennedy Patlan

My sophomore year of college, I read about the “decline of American civic society”. The piece by Robert Putnam uses bowling alleys as a metaphor for the ways that American interest in civic associations and community spaces has decreased. Putnam argues the importance of social connectedness and their impacts on communities, and says that it’s nowhere as strong as it used to be.

But after reading a transcript from the Facebook Community Summit, I started thinking. What if Putnam had it all wrong? Sure, bowling alleys aren’t the social hub anymore. But communities aren’t disappearing- they’re just extending beyond physical spaces. With the rise of social media, users have been able to grow communities at local, national, and global scales; communities which surpass the ones Putnam had in mind.

Celebrities, Influencers, and Fans: Communities have been created for celebrities and fans to come together in a way unlike any other. (PS- Happy belated birthday, Beyonce) 

Social media apps like Facebook gives people the ability to connect to niche based communities with the click of a button, (e.g. groups for bowling lovers). Platforms like Twitter give people the opportunity to act on issues within minutes. Civic associations like the NAACP and ACLU have social media presences with strong supporters and conversationalists.

Civil Rights & Social Communities: Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign utilize social media platforms to show their support for political causes, such as the current #DACA policy debate. 

With the rise of programs such as AI, social media gurus are totally redefining what it means to engage in community and conversation. So the bowling alleys of the twenty-first century aren’t disappearing- they’re just transforming and changing for the better.

One thought on “Social Media: The New Bowling Alley”

  1. Kennedy, I really enjoyed your post! I like how you highlight different peoples’ perceptions of social media. I know people who argue both sides. I personally agree with you! I think social media is making it easier to connect and I love how I can find very specific groups tailored to my interests online. I loved how you strung the bowling alley metaphor throughout your whole post. I think we are still as connected as we’ve ever been but use different means to form these real life connections.

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